Aydin H. Harston

Partner and Shareholder

Dr. Aydin Harston integrates scientific expertise with legal experience to help his clients grow, protect, and defend the intellectual property that powers their businesses. He counsels and advocates for clients in prosecuting patents, managing global patent portfolios, and in the courtroom, where he handles every aspect of patent-related cases. Since joining the firm in 2007, Aydin has prosecuted more than a thousand patent applications; performed numerous freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and patentability analyses; conducted IP diligence and acquisition investigations; negotiated licensing deals; and represented clients in Federal district courts, before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in inter partes review, post-grant review, appeal, and reexamination proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Originally a scientist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, Aydin devoted his early career to studying and working with complex scientific technologies.  Based on his own research path and obtaining both novel and non-obvious results, he now focuses on helping inventors protect their discoveries. He devises creative yet straightforward solutions and explanations for complex situations, enabling clients to achieve their goals as efficiently as possible.  His work is concentrated in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, health technology, and chemical companies, as well as companies manufacturing mechanical devices and advanced materials such as layers of glass, films, coatings, and inks. In addition to his U.S.-based clients, he represents international clients from major technology hubs around the world, including South Korea, Europe, Israel, Japan, Australia, Canada, China, and Singapore.

Aydin is routinely recognized as a leading lawyer in ranking publications, including IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, LMG Life Sciences, Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, and World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR). An editor of two Rothwell Figg blogs, RF EMerge and Biosimilars Law Bulletin, he regularly writes on developments and insights in the biosimilars space, and in 2025, two of his articles were recognized among JD Supra’s Top Reads.

Co-Chair of the Biotechnology, Healthcare Technology, and Medical Devices Committee of the ABA’s Science & Technology Law Section, American Bar Association (ABA) Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Member, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) Member, Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA) Member, PTAB Bar Association

J.D., The George Washington University Law School (with honors)

Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park

B.S., Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park